Previously: I picked up the phone and dialled the magic store

'Hocus Pocus Spells and Charms. Anya speaking' good to know her manners had improved for business.

'It's Spike. Is Red there?'

'Yeah. We're all going to hang out here until dusk. It's only an hour. Then Angelina, Lorne, Dawn and her friends are going to meet us here and we're going to the movies remember?'

'Yeah. I remember. Ok see you in an hour' I hung up the phone.

Ok so this gave me an uninterrupted hour to try and sort out what Angelus had planned.

I lay on the couch, put my feet up on the side and thought. Really, really hard.

Chapter 47

'Hey Dawn!' Candice greeted her friend with enthusiasm, wrapping her arms round the girl and pulling her into a hug.

'Good to see you too Candice' Dawn patted her back.

Candice withdrew from the hug and Dawn could see Carly kneeling on the ground rolling her eyes.

'Hey' Dawn greeted Carly

'Hey' was the reply.

'Whatcha doing?' Dawn asked. She could see a pile of cards on the floor.

'Tarot cards' Candice nearly squealed. 'Mum said I could practice with her spare set!'

Dawn's face fell into an expression of shock.

Candice thought this to be bad. 'What?'

Dawn stared at the cards and then turned to face Candice. 'I have to tell you guys something'

'Tarot cards?' Carly was quite amused. She had never heard such a ridiculous idea in all her life. A tarot-reading girl who could be in certain danger. Oh if only she knew who it was. She could then, being a vengeance demon, sell the chick to the highest bidder. It was probably some blonde bimbo walking around thinking she was on top of the world. At first, the mental image of Buffy came into her mind, but she realised Buffy wasn't dumb enough so pushed it aside.

'Tarot cards' Dawn said.

She had told them the whole story and now they were mulling over different ideas. But everything they came up with seemed even more ridiculous than Angelina's tarot cards or Robin's poker theory.

'Ok. Well we could try and use the cards to our advantage?' Candice suggested. 'We only have half an hour before we go to the movies with everyone, we could see if our tarot readings hold any clues?'

It made little sense what so ever, but both Dawn and Carly saw no harm in it. They agreed because of the above factor and the fact that Candice had been so excited about using them.

'Ok who wants to go first?' Candice asked.

Carly raised her hand 'I'll go'

'Ok' Candice nodded.

Candice spread the cards out on the floor and Carly choose three. Candice put them into order and flipped them up.

Past: The Wheel of Fortune

Present: The Page of Wands

Future: The Three of Swords

'Ok…' Candice consulted a booklet her mother had given her. 'Your past says that you had luck and good fortune. Would you agree with that?'

Carly thought about it for a moment 'Yeah I would. I met you' she gestured to Candice. 'Who's half demon, so I didn't feel too different. And I met Dawn and her team of slayers' Carly laughed. 'So I know where to go if I have a problem'

'Ok' Dawn said 'What's the next one?'

Candice flipped through the booklet. 'The Page of Wands. Is a trustful and reliable young person who wishes to bring happiness, excitement and light to those around. A messenger of good news and witty gossip and is faithful in the service to superiors.' Candice read.

'Ok. That's good. What's next?' Carly asked.

Candice flipped through again 'Oh'

'Oh? Oh what?' Carly panicked.

'The Three of Swords…' Candice read 'Sorrow and extreme pain… Heartbreak, tears, strife and conflict…' Candice didn't want to go on.

'Huh. I hate getting the suck-y futures' Carly complained. 'Guess I'll wait and see what that is'

'Doesn't sound too good' Dawn admitted. At least it didn't say anyone died.

'Yeah. Dawn, your turn' Candice said.

Dawn nodded and Candice shuffled and spread the cards.

Dawn was fussy. She took forever to pick a single card. Eventually she had three. They were:

Past: The Three of Swords

Present: The Star (Reversed)

Future: The Nine of Wands

'Ok your past…' Candice flipped through the booklet again. 'Ok, it's the same as Carly. Sorrow and extreme pain… Heartbreak, tears, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah' Dawn nodded. She had heard it the first time it had been read. 'My present?'

Candice flipped again 'The Star. Hang on, it's reversed. Ok got it!...' She began to read. 'The Star. Self doubt, stubbornness, unwillingness or inability to adapt to changing circumstances and accept the opportunities it may bring… Obstacles to happiness, etc.' Candice read.

'Ok. Now what about my future?' Dawn questioned.

Candice once more flipped through the booklet. They all heard the doorbell go, but none of them paid it any attention. Bonnie normally had clients drop by.

'The Nine of Wands. Order, discipline and unassailable position. Any opposition will be defeated. Courage in the face of attack or adversity and a stability that cannot be removed. Good health' Candice read.

'No fair. Your's is better than mine' Carly grumbled.

'Yeah. But it didn't give us any clues now did it?' Dawn observed.

'No. But I got some practice in' Candice grinned

'Well that's all that matters' Carly lightly punched Candice's shoulder.

She knew if she hit her hard, she would end up with her head in the wall. Candice was strong. Not as strong as a slayer, but strong enough to cause some serious damage.

There was a knock at the door.

'Come in!' Candice called.

Her father entered the room and rocked on his heels as he spoke 'There is someone at the door for you three.' He then noticed the cards 'Anything good?'

Carly grumbled something about getting crap futures and Dawn just shrugged.

Stone laughed. 'Well have fun at the movies kiddies. See you tomorrow'

Candice gave him a look 'Where are you going?'

Stone tapped the right side of his nose 'Playing poker with some friends'

Dawn thought she'd throw a fit. How many times had she heard the word 'poker' today?

She shrugged it off and all three girls and Stone headed back down the stairs.

When they reached the landing Dawn looked over the rail. There in the hallway was a figure standing and having a conversation with Bonnie. Both women were laughing and joking, so nothing too bad had been said Dawn guessed.

The three girls reached Bonnie and the figure and Dawn gasped when she saw who it was.

'Angelina?'

'Hey Dawn! Carly, Candice' she greeted the others as well.

'Wha- what are you doing here?' Dawn asked

'Well I was passing by and rang Buffy to see if you were coming or not. You were and so I thought I'd escort you. Not that you need it, I just felt like company' Angelina covered up the Angelus problem nicely.

'Oh ok. Thanks' Dawn said.

The girls said goodbye to Bonnie and Stone as they grabbed coats and pulled on shoes. They acted like there was nothing odd about the escort, though they knew different. Bonnie and Stone were none the wiser about an evil vampire running around. It was only until they were out the door and down the street did Dawn say something.

'You weren't passing through were you?'

Angelina tapped her nose. 'Never you mind about that' and that was all she said.

Dawn noticed that a lot of adults tapped their noses. Was it just some lame thing they grew up doing? Or did it have secret meaning to it? She wasn't sure.

'So Dawn tells me you're half demon and you're a vengeance demon' Angelina addressed the two girls walking on Dawn's right.

'And Dawn tells us you're her lover' Carly teased.

'Does she now?' Angelina cast a sly look at Dawn and she blushed.

'I do not! I said she was an awesome friend!' She cried.

'Sounded like lover to me' Carly teased.

'No, but thanks a lot Carly.' Dawn huffed.

'Yeah good one man!' Candice cried. 'Now she'll never have a chance with her' Candice laughed.

Dawn's mood soured.

'Oh c'mon you guys, lighten up. I'm sure Dawn'll find someone.' Angelina defended. 'Besides, she's outta my league'

Dawn laughed. Angelina was pretty. She was out of everyone's league.

Candice and Carly dropped the 'Dawn's a lesbian' act and they travelled to the Magic shop together in a somewhat comfortable silence, bumping into Spike halfway.

~**~

'Hey Spike!' Dawn greeted. Carly and Candice waved and Angelina gave a nod in recognition.

'Hey Niblet. Girls' I nodded to the others.

We walked together to Hocus Pocus, having light joking conversations. All tension and awkwardness I had sense before, was now gone.

Upon reaching the store, Dawn and the other two rushed in while Angelina and I were having a conversation about music. The topic was which song was better: I Wanna Be Sedated or Come As You Are.

I opened and held the door open as Angelina walked past, finally agreeing with me that 'I Wanna Be Sedated' was better.

Everyone else was settled around the table and the counter. Everyone except Faith and Robin.

'Where's the other slayer?' I asked. 'And Wood?'

'They didn't want to come' said Buffy while sauntering up and wrapping her arms round my neck for a 'hello' kiss. She got one. A very enthusiastic one.

'Get a room' Angelina joked as she passed us both to say hello to Willow, Xander, Anya and the others.

At least ten minutes passed before anyone was ready to go.

'Ok are we ready to leave? We're going to be late!' Buffy called to no one in particular.

'Yeah yeah pet, we're ready' I began counting people before we left. Better to know how many we started with, just in case. 'One, two three… five… Hey where's the green guy?'

'Hey yeah. Where is Lorne?' Angelina asked. 'He's supposed to be here'

'We'll wait another few minutes?' Willow suggested.

'No time.' Buffy stated. 'He'll find us'

We all nodded and began to file out of the store. We waited outside the door while Anya and Giles locked up and then we began to head down the street to the movie theatre.

We weren't even half way there when I heard running footsteps. I turned around subtly as to not cause a scene or panic. We were living in dark times now. Angelus was on the loose. When I turned I saw none other than the friendly green demon, running down the street to catch up to the rest of us. The bright red suit was a dead giveaway.

'Lorne's here' I stated and the group stopped to allow him to catch us.

'I'm here, I'm here. Had to find the right clothes.' He explained.

'Why? You're going to the movies' Angelina said.

Lorne just pulled a face and Angelina shrugged as we continued on our way.

~**~

'Now you're sure you know what to do?' Angelus asked the two women in front of him.

'Yeah. Yeah. We fight. Bite. Suck. They die.' Ally huffed.

Angelus had told them the plan over and over and over. Just because she had forgotten one tiny detail. Don't pick off the slayer with the Australian accent. He had a feeling she would be of use. They weren't to kill her, just maim her and bring her to him.

'Don't worry daddy. We'll be good' Dru crooned.

'It's not you I'm worried about.' Angelus grinned.

'Thanks for the concern Angelus, but I don't think you need to worry about me either' Ally sighed.

Angelus looked at her and said with a snarl 'It wasn't you either. I was worrying about whether or not Buffy would break a nail'

Drusilla giggled and Ally just rolled her eyes.

'Ok. now I want you to start from here, take the boys, and head towards the magic store located here…' Angelus pointed to a map. 'From there, Buffy, Willow and Spike live here…' he gestured again. 'And the others live close by'

'What if they're not in?' Ally asked just to push his buttons.

'If they're not 'in' go to public places. You're bound to find them somewhere' Angelus hissed.

'Or we could swing by that Aussie slayer's house?' Ally suggested.

'Whatever' Angelus sighed, turned and walked away.

'You've upset daddy' Drusilla pouted.

'Don't worry. Something will happen to put a grin back on his face' Ally turned around to address a group of ten or so vampires 'C'mon boys. We've got people to kill'

The group 'whooped' and danced with joy.

They were about to leave the lair when Angelus turned around 'Oh. And girls?'

Ally and Drusilla turned 'Yes?'

'Have fun' Angelus smiled sweetly. Well as sweetly as one could with a mouthful or pointy teeth.

'We will' chorused the two and together, they and the ten or so others, disappeared into the oncoming night.